ZimTrade in bid to promote growth, exports

ZimTradeCharity Ruzvidzo Business Reporter
EXPORT promotion body, ZimTrade, has partnered with the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) to build capacity for local Small to Medium Enterprises to promote growth and development of exports.As a result of the partnership, the first training for Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) was conducted last week with over 30 businesses across the country being imparted with skills to penetrate the export market.

ZimTrade chief executive officer Sithembile Pilime said the programme was aimed at developing and improving export skills.

“The programme materialised as a result of the strong cooperation that exists between the governments of India and Zimbabwe. We tackled issues such as identifying and evaluating export markets, productivity enhancement techniques, enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs, global supply chain management as well as rules of packaging, labelling and marketing in international markets,” she said.

Pilime said the collaboration with IIFT to impart knowledge to SMEs was commendable as the organisation had vast experience in the export market.

“The Institute has been entrusted with the responsibility to conduct customised capacity building programmes in international business in African countries. It has conducted similar capacity building programmes in various African countries namely Egypt, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Uganda, Senegal, Rwanda and Mauritius, among others.

“Zimbabwe has the potential to produce and export. If we export we bring in money into the country and revive our economy.  Now that we have capacitated local companies with knowledge about the export world we hope they will utilise that information,” she said.

The IIFT is one of the premier management institutes in international business and was set up by the Indian government in 1963.

It has conducted several research studies with organisations such as the World Bank, World Trade Organisation as well as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

 

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